Shadow Dog Press Announces A Raw, Lyrical Blend of Vulnerability and Punk-Rock Defiance From Poet C.B. Mottor

Shadow Dog Press is thrilled to announce the preorder launch of Tempered Edges: A Reclamation, the searing debut chapbook from poet C.B. Mottor. Published as part of the Shadow Dog Press Pocket Chapbook series, this pocket-sized powerhouse (4x6 inches, ISBN 9798993568201) lays bare the raw edges of human experience with unflinching honesty and punk-rock defiance.

Mottor rejects traditional notions of femininity and obedience, channeling lived experience-shaped by chronic illness, mental health struggles, love, loss, and life-altering traumas-into vivid imagery and a voice that swings between tender vulnerability and fierce rebellion. From the biting critique of gendered norms in "MIS(S)FIT" to the aching introspection of "Worth," and the summons to rise from ashes in "Phoenix," poems like "Ballad" and "Façade" trace the quiet courage of breaking free from toxic cycles. Each piece is a fragment of survival and rebirth, blending sharp conversational rhythms with haunting metaphors that challenge, heal, and empower.

Originally from Warwick, Rhode Island, Mottor now calls northern Berkshire County, Massachusetts, home, where she tends her cottage garden with a cup of coffee and Leia the elder cat, or hikes the local trails with her dogs, Shadow and Padmé. Beyond poetry, she writes dystopian horror novels, screenplays, and shares artistic photography celebrating beauty in chaos and the perfectly imperfect human experience at https://www.cbmottor.com.

Pre-order Tempered Edges: A Reclamation from the Shadow Dog Press Bookshop or your favorite bookseller and receive an exclusive Advanced Screening Pass to C: The Studio Sessions. This never-before-shared intimate collection of raw audio and video features C.B. Mottor performing chapbook selections and sharing the lived experiences behind them. Advanced Screening is pre-order exclusive and begins January 10, 2026.
Tempered Edges: A Reclamation releases on New Year's Day. Secure your pocket-sized copy and join the reclamation.
In eBook and paperback.
Book details and preorder page: https://shadowdogpress.com/tempered-edges-preorder/

Media Contact:
Shadow Dog Press
108 Union Street
North Adams MA
shadowdogpress.com
Shadow Dog Press Editorial Staff
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
editors@shadowdogpress.com
C.B. Mottor: contact@cbmottor.com

Shadow Dog Press is a small independent publishing house started in 2024 and located in North Adams, Massachusetts, a tiny Appalachian Trail town in the Northern Berkshires. Shadow Dog Press was founded on the profound belief that poets and writers hold the power to transcend boundaries, foster empathy, enhance understanding, and catalyze social change. We envision a world where poetry serves as a bridge between differing human experiences and where stories from all corners of society are not only heard but celebrated. Literature, we believe, should reflect the complexity of human life, acting as a catalyst for dialogue and societal transformation. We aim to challenge the homogeneity often found in mainstream literary circles by offering a broader, more accurate view of the human condition.

We are advocates of a literary renaissance. Through our work, we hope to inspire a new generation of poets, writers, and readers who see themselves in the pages of the books they encounter, and in doing so, contribute to a more accurate literary legacy.

What We Publish
At Shadow Dog Press, we publish little books that make a big impact, including gorgeous chapbooks, collections, and novellas. We are also home to The SDL Review, a quarterly antholo-journal and our founder's labor of love.

Our Publishing Model
We follow a traditional publishing model with competitive royalties, transparent contracts, and varied advances.

"We are drawn to evocative, raw, poignant, and powerful pieces of substance and style. Pluck at our heartstrings, speak to our souls, send shivers down our spines, shine a light on our darkness, and uncover our unspoken truths."

This release was published on openPR.